Technology
Blocked users can now view your public posts on X — Elon Musk
With yet another significant update to the platform, Elon Musk is continuing to transform X, previously Twitter. This time, the feature being updated is the block feature. According to a recent article by Musk, users can still exclude accounts from interacting with their material, but they will still be able to view postings that are made public.
Elon stated in a 2023 announcement that the block functionality should only apply to direct messages (DMs), saying the feature “made no sense” in its original configuration. It appears that this update expands upon the same concept.
This change is just one of many platform shifts under Musk’s leadership. For instance, the decision to rebrand Twitter as “X” was part of his long-term vision to transform it into a more “everything app.” Following which, Musk revamped Twitter’s verification system, replacing the traditional blue checkmark for verified accounts with a subscription model through X Premium (formerly Twitter Blue). This change entirely changed the meaning behind account verification and allowed anyone to purchase the checkmark.
Musk has also worked on decentralizing content moderation, laying a lot of emphasis on free speech on the platform. When you consider these earlier changes, the new block function adjustment seems to align with his vision of a more open and less restricted platform. This update will likely invite mixed reactions from the platform users. However, this update won’t affect private accounts, as their posts remain hidden to anyone not approved as a follower regardless.
BREAKING: X is about to remove the current block button, meaning that if an account is public, their posts will be visible to the blocked users as well!
— Nima Owji (@nima_owji) September 23, 2024
